Conkers 5, Shakespeare Stratford Marathon & Evesham Half Marathon

Competitive at the top
Sunday saw the first race in this year’s Burton & District Summer League Series, the Conkers 5 organised by the Club.  While the emphasis was in managing the race this did not prevent strong teams being entered in both the men’s and women’s races.
Chris Pearson, Dominic Sharman & Andy Hawtin continued what promises to be a season long rivalry as they finished in 7^th, 8^th & 9^th places out of 150 finishers in times of 29.31, 29.40 & 29.49 respectively. Next to cross the line was Louise Insley, who confirmed her status as one of the best WV40 runners in the region, by easily winning the women’s race in 31.04.
Next home was James Cassidy who continued his excellent progress with a well run 31.48 for 18^th place. Completing the team finishers for the men were solid performances from Stuart Halsey & Colin Mee in times of 32.24 & 33.14 & finishing positions of 23^rd & 26^th respectively.
Also putting in great team performances, Christina Cooper, Tracey Glover, Sam Skidmore & Laura Storer performed brilliantly over the multi-terrain course with some sharp turns to record finishing times of 35.51, 37.47, 40.18 & 41.03 respectively. Just a couple of places behind Laura, Chris Morton ran strongly in the warm conditions to record 41.10 for 94^th place, with the improving David Lunn completing the finishers for the Club in 42.58 for 104^th place.
In what has been a busy marathon running season four of the Club’s runners tackled the classic distance on Sunday in the Shakespeare Stratford Marathon, with one of the Club’s leading women runners, Kelly Knight, tackling the half marathon distance, which is incorporated within the race. In overcast conditions with the occasional outbreak of a short welcome shower it was Kelly who set the tempo with a superb PB of 1.40.39 & 330^th place out of 1995 finishers in the half marathon.
In the marathon, after a slow, steady start it was the more experienced marathoners Mark Coombes & Steve Fowler who set the early pace with marathon debutants, the Chapman’s taking a more cautious approach. However, once the brothers got into their running they passed their colleagues and ran together until 16 miles when the younger Chapman Jnr, kicked on to record a superb debut time of 3.07.09 for 43^rd place out 732 finishers. Despite struggling later in the race Chapman Snr should also be pleased to record 3.19.25 for 91^st place. Running steadily Mark Coombes finished strongly in 3.39.39 & 209^th place with Evergreen Fowler unluckily suffering the marathon runner’s curse of crippling cramp, bravely stopping the clock in 4.29.58 & 567 place. Last but not least Katie Kift tackled the Evesham Half Marathon & ran well for 2.32. Great efforts all round…..